Ever have awful Table mates?

[ducklite]

3 minutes ago, K32682 said:

 

Yes, it was a luncheon speech event hosted by a business organization with set tables. Changing or moving was not an option.    

 

 

I would have asked if his employer new what a bigoted jerk he was, and then told him that I'd make sure that not only did his employer know, but that the gay community would be made aware so they could take their business elsewhere.  

[clo]

2 hours ago, zitsky said:

Could this not be perceived as someone who is trying to be friendly?

 

Totally.

[mom says]

4 hours ago, zitsky said:

 

Could this not be perceived as someone who is trying to be friendly?

 

No doubt. But there is a difference between a courteous "Hello" or "Good evening", and insinuating yourself into the conversation at another table -of strangers.  Would you do this at a land restaurant? Unfortunately, it appears that too many people today are unable to read even the most obvious of social cues. You dont need to be a genius to sense when someone is uninterested in striking up a conversation.

 

We prefer anytime dining, as we tend not to want dinner at the same time every night. Depending on our mood we may share a large table, and usually enjoy the dinner conversation. Other nights we dine at a table for 2. On those nights we prefer to confine our conversations to ourselves. 

 

I remember one unfortunate dinner on our last cruise. We were at a table for 2 and were looking over the menus. 2 women were soon seated at the table next to us. As is our habit, DH and I were discussing our food choices for that night. One of the women starts commenting in each of our choices! "EWWW, don't order that, it's awful" (it was one of my favorite dishes) . "Oh, don't order that rare, It's not healthy" ( since when is rare lamb unhealthy?). I had to bite my tongue hard, and simply replied that different people enjoyed different things,  and wasn't it nice that the menu offered choices for different tastes. She finally got the point.

[RocketMan275]

 

 

A person posted the following on cruise critic:  This person stated that if a waiter were to approach her table to seat another person and that person did not meet her interpretation of the dress code, she would, in a loud voice, announce to the waiter that this person was not dressed appropriately and should be escorted from the MDR.  The intent was to embarrass the person being seated.

[mom says]

1 minute ago, RocketMan275 said:

 

 

A person posted the following on cruise critic:  This person stated that if a waiter were to approach her table to seat another person and that person did not meet her interpretation of the dress code, she would, in a loud voice, announce to the waiter that this person was not dressed appropriately and should be escorted from the MDR.  The intent was to embarrass the person being seated.

 

There is a certain poster on this board who has, in the past,  frequently boasted that anyone who violated his interpretation of dress code or buffet rules would receive a very loud public rebuke. Apparently he gets his jollies by bullying and humiliating others. No doubt he sees frequent changes at his MDR table.

[zitsky]

1 hour ago, mom says said:

No doubt. But there is a difference between a courteous "Hello" or "Good evening", and insinuating yourself into the conversation at another table -of strangers.  Would you do this at a land restaurant? Unfortunately, it appears that too many people today are unable to read even the most obvious of social cues. You dont need to be a genius to sense when someone is uninterested in striking up a conversation.

 

We prefer anytime dining, as we tend not to want dinner at the same time every night. Depending on our mood we may share a large table, and usually enjoy the dinner conversation. Other nights we dine at a table for 2. On those nights we prefer to confine our conversations to ourselves. 

 

I remember one unfortunate dinner on our last cruise. We were at a table for 2 and were looking over the menus. 2 women were soon seated at the table next to us. As is our habit, DH and I were discussing our food choices for that night. One of the women starts commenting in each of our choices! "EWWW, don't order that, it's awful" (it was one of my favorite dishes) . "Oh, don't order that rare, It's not healthy" ( since when is rare lamb unhealthy?). I had to bite my tongue hard, and simply replied that different people enjoyed different things,  and wasn't it nice that the menu offered choices for different tastes. She finally got the point.

 

There is a difference between

 

1)  Eww.  That's awful.

 

And

 

2)  Good evening.  Did you enjoy your excursions today?

 

Maybe #2 is still too friendly and intrusive.

[mom says]

10 minutes ago, zitsky said:

 

There is a difference between

 

1)  Eww.  That's awful.

 

And

 

2)  Good evening.  Did you enjoy your excursions today?

 

Maybe #2 is still too friendly and intrusive.

Re read my first paragraph. If my response to #2 is "Good evening.  Yes,  it was fine". And then I turn back to my table partner and resume what we were doing, TAKE THE HINT. There should be no expectation of ongoing conversation just because you are seated at an adjacent table.

[sfaaa]

4 hours ago, K32682 said:

 

Yes, it was a luncheon speech event hosted by a business organization with set tables. Changing or moving was not an option.    

 

 

Perhaps you should consider taking an anger management course then. When you attend a business function, you are there to represent your company, not as an individual unless you are self employed.

[zitsky]

14 minutes ago, mom says said:

Re read my first paragraph. If my response to #2 is "Good evening.  Yes,  it was fine". And then I turn back to my table partner and resume what we were doing, TAKE THE HINT. There should be no expectation of ongoing conversation just because you are seated at an adjacent table.

 

Oh I read your first paragraph. I got the essence of it.  No need to shout.

[K32682]

29 minutes ago, sfaaa said:

Perhaps you should consider taking an anger management course then. When you attend a business function, you are there to represent your company, not as an individual unless you are self employed.

 

I wasn't angry at all.  I calmly asked him a series of questions intended to discomfit and humiliate him.  They had the desired effect. 

 

The owner of the company I was representing isn't concerned. The company policy is not to idly sit there when a bigot starts running his mouth.   I own the company. 

 

 

Edited June 25, 2019 by K32682

[AmazedByCruising]

25 minutes ago, sfaaa said:

Perhaps you should consider taking an anger management course then. When you attend a business function, you are there to represent your company, not as an individual unless you are self employed.

 

Don't know the exact situation, but I'd want my employees to act in exactly the same way. In fact, to represent my company.

[momofmeg]

On 6/22/2019 at 1:00 AM, ldubs said:

 

Interesting.  We are kind of in the same boat (😲).   We are a large close knit family.  Now that the kids are grown and independent, the oldies (like me) like to take more group vacations.   A cruise is an excellent way for our family group to travel together.  So these days our cruise count would probably be much lower if it weren't for the family members traveling together.  

 

Next trip for Mrs Ldubs and me is Northern Italy later in the summer.  Next cruise is in Jan '20.  Our group of 16 will be going on a 7 day cruise and then a few days at both Hong Kong and Singapore.  

You know I am with you on that. Instead of doing the Caribbean 3 times a year I would much rather do a  better trip every 2 or 3 years.  (amounts to about the same amount of money spent) We are going back to the Caribbean next week  lol but we thought we were going to Cuba which has been my husband's dream for years. That is not happening now, oh well.  Anyway  we will make the best of it and will see how well we like MSC.  (our first time on that line)I do feel bad for my husband who wanted to go there so badly but  I really doubt it would be a lot different than any of the other Caribbean islands.  Anyway if we had not booked this, we would have waited until next year when we do Scotland and done our usual Myrtle Beach trip this year. 

 

 

[zitsky]

12 minutes ago, K32682 said:

 

I wasn't angry at all.  I calmly asked him a series of questions intended to discomfit and humiliate him.  They had the desired effect. 

 

The owner of the company I was representing isn't concerned. The company policy is not to idly sit there when a bigot starts running his mouth.   I own the company. 

 

 

 

I wonder why you felt it necessary to humiliate someone?

[K32682]

21 minutes ago, zitsky said:

 

I wonder why you felt it necessary to humiliate someone?

 

Because he deserved it. 

[DarrenM]

2 hours ago, mom says said:

 

There is a certain poster on this board who has, in the past,  frequently boasted that anyone who violated his interpretation of dress code or buffet rules would receive a very loud public rebuke. Apparently he gets his jollies by bullying and humiliating others. No doubt he sees frequent changes at his MDR table.

I am new to cruising, but I have no doubt that if this person tried that with me, they would end up in the sea.

 

My wife and I prefer our own table, and the thought of sharing with folk like described above would be awful.

 

[clo]

3 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

 

 

A person posted the following on cruise critic:  This person stated that if a waiter were to approach her table to seat another person and that person did not meet her interpretation of the dress code, she would, in a loud voice, announce to the waiter that this person was not dressed appropriately and should be escorted from the MDR.  The intent was to embarrass the person being seated.

WOW!  Do you think that was for real?

[RocketMan275]

18 minutes ago, clo said:

WOW!  Do you think that was for real?

There's no way one could no for sure.  However, "Mom Says" confirms that a poster has made several comments like that.  

Another poster claimed to have 'escorted the matre d' through the MDR pointing out violations of the dress code."  That seems to be very rude to me.

 

While not in the MDR, there was the lady who approached the bar demanding service prior to anyone there because of her cruise line status.

Edited June 25, 2019 by RocketMan275

[VennDiagram]

11 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

While not in the MDR, there was the lady who approached the bar demanding service prior to anyone there because of her cruise line status.

 

I have witnessed similar.  And heard other stories from people I consider reliable sources of similar.  Either "status" or cabin category.

[DarrenM]

It seems there are some odd and seriously delusional folk on these cruise ships. Thankfully my first ever cruise, on The Edge last week, we didnt meet anyone like those sort of people.

 

Everyone was very nice.

[MicCanberra]

1 hour ago, DarrenM said:

I am new to cruising, but I have no doubt that if this person tried that with me, they would end up in the sea.

 

My wife and I prefer our own table, and the thought of sharing with folk like described above would be awful.

 

Seeing as you are new to cruising, may I point out that throwing things off the ship is not allowed (even if they may deserve it).😁

[MicCanberra]

5 minutes ago, DarrenM said:

It seems there are some odd and seriously delusional folk on these cruise ships. Thankfully my first ever cruise, on The Edge last week, we didnt meet anyone like those sort of people.

 

Everyone was very nice.

Most people generally are.

[DarrenM]

3 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

Seeing as you are new to cruising, may I point out that throwing things off the ship is not allowed (even if they may deserve it).😁

I do apologise. I should have expanded by saying I would strip him naked prior to the offload. Making him feed for the needy sea life. My contribution to the circle of life.

[ontheweb]

3 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

Most people generally are.

Yes, and on the whole you tend to meet friendly, interesting people on cruises.

[DarrenM]

Have to say I agree. Wasnt sure what to expect but I found everyone I met to be really nice and friendly.

[DarrenM]

Included the crew by the way. Some lovely people.